Former Aurora motel owner who battled city sentenced

Dean Inman, who co-owned several troubled Aurora Avenue North motels that city leaders described as havens for drug activity and other crimes, was sentenced Friday to a Department of Corrections work crew.

His deferred sentence was supposed to end this month in Seattle Municipal Court, but he had multiple theft convictions from the Bothell area from about a year ago, City Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Kimberly Mills said. Court documents show that in March, Inman pleaded guilty to third-degree theft for stealing food at the Shoreline Costco.

The City Attorney’s Office asked for 10 days in jail, but a judge imposed 10 days of work crew and a suspended sentence, Mills said.

In 2009, then-Assistant City Attorney Ed McKenna filed dozens of tax charges again Inman, his former wife and the motel companies. McKenna showed massive police resources went into the motels and, after the tax charges, helped finalize the city’s ordinance on chronic-nuisance properties to address problem Aurora sites.

The following year, guilty pleas were entered on behalf of four Aurora Avenue motel corporations to tax violations. Afterward, police declared the Fremont Inn a nuisance property.

Under terms of the plea agreements, the Isabella and Italia, were to be sold within four months or leased to non-profit groups for use as low-income housing or emergency shelter.

The court also revoked the deferred sentence on four cases filed against the corporations owning the motel properties, and those were also closed, according to the City Attorney’s office. McKenna, now a Seattle Municipal Court Judge, did not handle the case.

For years leading to the 2009 tax charges, neighbors complained of continued problems with the five motels owned by Dean and Jill Inman: the Fremont Inn, the Italia and Isabella motels, the Wallingford Inn and the Seattle Motor Inn.

City officials said the Inmans let criminal activity run rampant at the motels, which fell into disrepair and had serious health risks because of infrequent state health inspections.

The Seattle Motor Inn closed in December 2009. The Isabella and Italia property, which was sold to another party in 2010, have also been boarded for months though it’s not clear what may replace the dilapidated buildings.

In March, demolition was completed at the Fremont Inn, 4251 Aurora Ave. N., which previously had been declared a chronic nuisance property by Police Chief John Diaz. The two-story, wood-frame motel was built in 1956 and operated for years as the Thunderbird Motel. The Thunderbird sign that had been deteriorating was given to a neighbor on Aurora who had plans to restore it.

The site is expected to be home to 71 apartments run by Catholic Community Services, which had a ceremonial demolition at the site in February. Construction is expected to begin in fall and the apartments are slated to open in late 2013.

Pictures from the February ceremonial demolition of the Fremont Inn and other pictures are below.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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Zac Wise, 6, prepares to smash a wall with a hammer at the former site of the Thunderbird Motel on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on the long-troubled motel will begin on Tuesday but neighbors came out Friday to celebrate the beginning of the demolition process. It will be replaced by 71 units of affordable housing run by Catholic Housing Services. less

Zac Wise, 6, prepares to smash a wall with a hammer at the former site of the Thunderbird Motel on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on the long-troubled motel will begin ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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Neighbor Rob Van Tassell looks into a room that appears it was being lived in recently at the former site of the Thunderbird Motel on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on the long-troubled motel will begin on Tuesday but neighbors came out Friday to celebrate the beginning of the demolition process. It will be replaced by 71 units of affordable housing run by Catholic Housing Services. less

Neighbor Rob Van Tassell looks into a room that appears it was being lived in recently at the former site of the Thunderbird Motel on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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Speakers at the former site of the Thunderbird Motel are shown on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on the long-troubled motel will begin on Tuesday but neighbors came out Friday to celebrate the beginning of the demolition process. It will be replaced by 71 units of affordable housing run by Catholic Housing Services. less

Speakers at the former site of the Thunderbird Motel are shown on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on the long-troubled motel will begin on Tuesday but neighbors came out ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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Denny Beaumon, 5, smashes a wall with a hammer at the former site of the Thunderbird Motel on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on the long-troubled motel will begin on Tuesday but neighbors came out Friday to celebrate the beginning of the demolition process. It will be replaced by 71 units of affordable housing run by Catholic Housing Services. less

Denny Beaumon, 5, smashes a wall with a hammer at the former site of the Thunderbird Motel on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on the long-troubled motel will begin on ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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The sign of the Thunderbird Motel is shown on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on the long-troubled motel will begin on Tuesday but neighbors came out Friday to celebrate the beginning of the demolition process. It will be replaced by 71 units of affordable housing run by Catholic Housing Services. less

The sign of the Thunderbird Motel is shown on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on the long-troubled motel will begin on Tuesday but neighbors came out Friday to celebrate ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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An old television is shown at the former site of the Thunderbird Motel on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on the long-troubled motel will begin on Tuesday but neighbors came out Friday to celebrate the beginning of the demolition process. It will be replaced by 71 units of affordable housing run by Catholic Housing Services. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com) less

An old television is shown at the former site of the Thunderbird Motel on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on the long-troubled motel will begin on Tuesday but neighbors ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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Zac Wise, 6, and Dan Wise explore the former site of the Thunderbird Motel on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on the long-troubled motel will begin on Tuesday but neighbors came out Friday to celebrate the beginning of the demolition process. It will be replaced by 71 units of affordable housing run by Catholic Housing Services. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com) less

Zac Wise, 6, and Dan Wise explore the former site of the Thunderbird Motel on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on the long-troubled motel will begin on Tuesday but ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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A broken light hangs at the former site of the Thunderbird Motel on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on the long-troubled motel will begin on Tuesday but neighbors came out Friday to celebrate the beginning of the demolition process. It will be replaced by 71 units of affordable housing run by Catholic Housing Services. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com) less

A broken light hangs at the former site of the Thunderbird Motel on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on the long-troubled motel will begin on Tuesday but neighbors came ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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Forrest Baum looks into a room at the former site of the Thunderbird Motel on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on the long-troubled motel will begin on Tuesday but neighbors came out Friday to celebrate the beginning of the demolition process. It will be replaced by 71 units of affordable housing run by Catholic Housing Services. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com) less

Forrest Baum looks into a room at the former site of the Thunderbird Motel on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on the long-troubled motel will begin on Tuesday but ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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Zac Wise, 6, and Dan Wise explore the former site of the Thunderbird Motel with Rob Van Tassell on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on the long-troubled motel will begin on Tuesday but neighbors came out Friday to celebrate the beginning of the demolition process. It will be replaced by 71 units of affordable housing run by Catholic Housing Services. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com) less

Zac Wise, 6, and Dan Wise explore the former site of the Thunderbird Motel with Rob Van Tassell on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on the long-troubled motel will begin ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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Nat Beaumon, 9, center, is ready to begin demolition at the former site of the Thunderbird Motel on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on the long-troubled motel will begin on Tuesday but neighbors came out Friday to celebrate the beginning of the demolition process. It will be replaced by 71 units of affordable housing run by Catholic Housing Services. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com) less

Nat Beaumon, 9, center, is ready to begin demolition at the former site of the Thunderbird Motel on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on the long-troubled motel will begin ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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A hole punched in the wall by neighbors leads to the inside of a shower at the former site of the Thunderbird Motel on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on the long-troubled motel will begin on Tuesday but neighbors came out Friday to celebrate the beginning of the demolition process. It will be replaced by 71 units of affordable housing run by Catholic Housing Services. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com) less

A hole punched in the wall by neighbors leads to the inside of a shower at the former site of the Thunderbird Motel on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on the ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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Neighbors Zac Wise, 6, and Dan Wise walk past the former site of the Thunderbird Motel on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on the long-troubled motel will begin on Tuesday but neighbors came out Friday to celebrate the beginning of the demolition process. It will be replaced by 71 units of affordable housing run by Catholic Housing Services. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com) less

Neighbors Zac Wise, 6, and Dan Wise walk past the former site of the Thunderbird Motel on Friday, February 24, 2012 on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Demolition on the long-troubled motel will begin on ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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In this file photo, John Coelho, left, and Teresa Addison Coe, members of FAWN (Fremont and Wallingford Neighbors) watch a steady stream of suspicious looking people entering and exiting a Motel on Aurora Avenue on Wednesday Jan. 28, 2008. The picture was taken near the Fremont Inn, which Catholic Community Services wants to turn into a housing development for low-income residents. less

In this file photo, John Coelho, left, and Teresa Addison Coe, members of FAWN (Fremont and Wallingford Neighbors) watch a steady stream of suspicious looking people entering and exiting a Motel on Aurora ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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The Oct. 16, 2009 photo caption read: City Council candidate Sally Bagshaw, center, speaks to members of FAWN, including Teresa Addison Coe, left, John Coelho and Linda Clifton during a stop in front of the Wallingford Inn. [The Wallingford Inn was one of five Inman-run motels, including the Fremont Inn, that received attention city officials.] less

The Oct. 16, 2009 photo caption read: City Council candidate Sally Bagshaw, center, speaks to members of FAWN, including Teresa Addison Coe, left, John Coelho and Linda Clifton during a stop in front of the ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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Police arrest a man Aug. 25, 2009 outside the Fremont Inn, formerly the Thunderbird Motel. A neighbor told police the man stole property and had previously been trespassed from the motel property.

Police arrest a man Aug. 25, 2009 outside the Fremont Inn, formerly the Thunderbird Motel. A neighbor told police the man stole property and had previously been trespassed from the motel property.

Photo: Casey McNerthney / seattlepi.com

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This drawing, provided by Catholic Community Services, shows the proposed housing unit for the Fremont Inn site at 4251 Aurora Ave. N. The site would be home to low-income, former homeless people.

This drawing, provided by Catholic Community Services, shows the proposed housing unit for the Fremont Inn site at 4251 Aurora Ave. N. The site would be home to low-income, former homeless people.

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The Fremont Inn when it operated as the Thunderbird Motel, Oct. 9, 2002. Catholic Community Services wants to turn the site into a hour-story housing unit for low-income residents.

The Fremont Inn when it operated as the Thunderbird Motel, Oct. 9, 2002. Catholic Community Services wants to turn the site into a hour-story housing unit for low-income residents.

Photo: King County Department of Assessments photo

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The vacant Fremont Inn at 4251 Aurora Ave. N. Catholic Community Services wants to build a four-story building for low-income people in its place. Photo taken July 11, 2011.

The vacant Fremont Inn at 4251 Aurora Ave. N. Catholic Community Services wants to build a four-story building for low-income people in its place. Photo taken July 11, 2011.

Photo: Casey McNerthney / seattlepi.com

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The vacant Fremont Inn at 4251 Aurora Ave. N. Catholic Community Services wants to build a four-story building for low-income people in its place. Photo taken July 11, 2011.

The vacant Fremont Inn at 4251 Aurora Ave. N. Catholic Community Services wants to build a four-story building for low-income people in its place. Photo taken July 11, 2011.

Photo: Casey McNerthney / seattlepi.com

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The vacant Fremont Inn at 4251 Aurora Ave. N. Catholic Community Services wants to build a four-story building for low-income people in its place. Photo taken July 11, 2011.

The vacant Fremont Inn at 4251 Aurora Ave. N. Catholic Community Services wants to build a four-story building for low-income people in its place. Photo taken July 11, 2011.

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The vacant Fremont Inn at 4251 Aurora Ave. N. Catholic Community Services wants to build a four-story building for low-income people in its place. Photo taken July 11, 2011.

The vacant Fremont Inn at 4251 Aurora Ave. N. Catholic Community Services wants to build a four-story building for low-income people in its place. Photo taken July 11, 2011.

Photo: Casey McNerthney / seattlepi.com

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The vacant Fremont Inn at 4251 Aurora Ave. N. Catholic Community Services wants to build a four-story building for low-income people in its place. Photo taken July 11, 2011.

The vacant Fremont Inn at 4251 Aurora Ave. N. Catholic Community Services wants to build a four-story building for low-income people in its place. Photo taken July 11, 2011.

Photo: Casey McNerthney / seattlepi.com

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The vacant Fremont Inn at 4251 Aurora Ave. N. Catholic Community Services wants to build a four-story building for low-income people in its place. Photo taken July 11, 2011.

The vacant Fremont Inn at 4251 Aurora Ave. N. Catholic Community Services wants to build a four-story building for low-income people in its place. Photo taken July 11, 2011.

Photo: Casey McNerthney / seattlepi.com

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The vacant Fremont Inn at 4251 Aurora Ave. N. Catholic Community Services wants to build a four-story building for low-income people in its place. Photo taken July 11, 2011.

The vacant Fremont Inn at 4251 Aurora Ave. N. Catholic Community Services wants to build a four-story building for low-income people in its place. Photo taken July 11, 2011.